Study: Media Ignores Religious Progressives Print E-mail
By Jesse Lava
May. 30, 07 15:25
Tags: Politics,

A Media Matters study has confirmed what many of us have long believed: that the mainstream media consistently links religion with conservatism and secularism with liberalism.

 

Quoting the report, here are the findings in a nutshell:

  • Combining newspapers and television, conservative religious leaders were quoted, mentioned, or interviewed in news stories 2.8 times as often as were progressive religious leaders.
  • On television news -- the three major television networks, the three major cable news channels, and PBS -- conservative religious leaders were quoted, mentioned, or interviewed almost 3.8 times as often as progressive leaders.
  • In major newspapers, conservative religious leaders were quoted, mentioned, or interviewed 2.7 times as often as progressive leaders.

This overrepresentation of right-wing voices tells religious Americans that “people like them” are conservatives.  The result for the religious center-left is death by framing: Christian equals right-wing equals Republican.

 

In this environment, conservatives don’t need to defend their reading of Scripture.  It’s simply assumed that abortion and homosexuality are key biblical issues, while economic justice, creation care, racial righteousness, and international cooperation have little or nothing to do with the Christian faith.

 

In an America where most Christians don’t really know what’s in the Bible, media messages are a big part of where people get their impression of what it means to be a person of faith.  So far, the media’s telling a biased story — effectively prohibiting the rest of us from making our argument.

 

That’s why the frame game matters: if religious Democrats scream in the forest and no one hears us, we might as well not have made a sound.


LIST OF COMMENTS

1/3. Go After The Evangelicals
Written by stanjz  | May. 31, 07 20:10
Follow Bob Casey Jr's lead and go right into the lion's den. It seems many democrats hold back expressing their faith in an attempt to up-hold the idea of seperation of church and state. But it's my contention that the founders of this country included that to prevent the abuses of religion seen throughout history, not to disclude morality from public servants. The teachings of Jesus Christ are not religious dogma, but practical humanity. Christ's teachings are as applicable to a primitive tribe in a remote area of the world, as to the most modern cultures. What kind of society would reject compassion, forgiveness, charity, and peace as cornerstones of their culture? I don't think it's using Christ to combat Republicans, when Republicans are mis-leading people as to who Christ is. Maybe I'm wrong. A part of me wants a decent job, that I don't have to be afraid of losing all the time.

2/3. what is the solution?
Written by pollchecker  | Jun. 01, 07 05:53

So how do we change this?  The progressive Christian leaders I know stay out of the political limelight.  The only thing I can figure is that more non-Bushie Christians need to stand up, and make their voices heard if even on ONLY  the internet. 

The election in 2008 is an historic event.  It has been 80 years since we did not have either a sitting President or Vice-President running for the office.  So NOW is the time to write something, ANYTHING, and get it out there.  Even if its only a letter to your congressman and Senators. 

The candidates ARE LISTENING!  Write them as well.  Express your faith.  Sometimes I think we are a bit timid about mixing our faith with politics.  This, I believe, is because we don't seek to impose our faith on others like the Right wingers seek to do. 

But there are a lot of us out there.  I sincerely believe that a NEW MAJORITY is about to emerge.  What it lacks is an outspoken leader and a catchy name. 

God's word says in Psalms 37:
1)Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2) For they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb.
3)Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 
4)Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

It goes on to say:
7)Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth the wicked devices to pass. 
8)Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not theyself in any wise to do evil.
9)For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

I know in my heart that our father will deliver us from these evil times.  But we must stand together in our faith against those who may call themselves Christians but whose fruits are quite spoiled.

 

 

 

 


3/3. The Debate
Written by stanjz  | Jun. 04, 07 11:40
I'm disappointed with Edwards keeping his site secular. It seems the only ones who invoke the name of the Lord are fake Christians and false prophets. If the population of atheists and secularists keep rising, we can thank many Democrats for that as well. It's Barack for me at this point. Although, I'm disappointed in his answer for taking out civilians with Bin Laden in the crosshairs. It's semantics to say they target civilians, when we target terrorists, and knowingly take out many innnocent lives. We're not actually aiming at the innnocents, but we know we're going to kill many of them when we drop a bomb. Can anyone see that we're making more enemies that way? Arab's on the fence about joining the fight against us, hear a friend crying about their innnocent children being killed and what do you think they will do then? How about we stop using Islam in the same sentence as terrorists. Can anyone see that we're insulting the entire faith when we do that. At least use a more precise term, like a radical far right wing of islamic terrorists. It sounds alot like a more local group I know.
Last Updated ( May. 30, 07 15:29 )
 
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